Questions? 866.755.8581

Optional Excursions

The following list of optional excursions are examples only for this vacation.
These optional excursions might or might not be offered. Whether it's a special
dinner, a local show or a special behind-the-scenes glimpse into an historical site,
optional excursions are a wonderful way to enrich your vacation even further. Plus,
they give you flexibility. We include the must-see sites and experiences, and we
also understand that people take interest in different activities and may want to
craft a more personal vacation by hand-picking optional excursions that appeal to
them.

Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal
suitability, days of operation, group interests, and general feasibility for your
vacation. The approximate value listed gives you a good, general idea of what you
can expect to pay but may vary once you are on your vacation. Some information provided
might be in a foreign currency; you can use our online
currency converter for exchange rate information.

Once you have booked your vacation, Globus provides the ability to pre-purchase
excursions, register for your vacations and provide emergency contact information
online.

El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen
Visit El Escorial, a renaissance-style quadrangular complex of white-grey stone, which houses the Mausoleum of the Spanish Monarchs and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built under the order of King Phillip II, it is considered the eighth Wonder of the World. Later continue through the Valley of the Fallen to the Basilica and the 492-foot cross commemorating the victims of the civil war.

Approximate value: 59 EUR per person

Excursion to Toledo
Admire Castilian landscapes on your way to the beautiful imperial city of Toledo. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe and its genuine Spanish buildings are a showcase of almost all periods of history (Arab, Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, and Baroque styles). Visit the 13th-century gothic cathedral, Church of Santo Tome with its masterpiece by El Greco, the synagogue, and a Damascene steel workshop, a technique that inlays precious metals into steel.

Approximate value: 49 EUR per person

Panoramic Drive & Dinner
Drive through the capital's boulevards, passing beautiful buildings and fountains. Later, dine Spanish style! Tonight is your chance to try many of the dishes that Madrid is renowned for, at one of Madrid's favorite restaurants. Drinks and coffee are included. During this evening, don't miss the opportunity to sip a glass of Sangria, the most traditional and famous Spanish drink prepared with wine, chopped fruit, sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy.

Approximate value: 58 EUR per person

Beautiful Barcelona
Together with your local expert explore the Ciutat Vella district (old city); the Barceloneta, an 18th-century traditional district of sailors and fisherman; the Olympic Village, constructed for the 1992 Olympic Games, with the Olympic Port and beaches and magnificent views of the harbor and the neo-Moorish-style Arc de Triomphe. Don't miss out the experience of walking down the famous La Rambla to visit the Boqueria Market the oldest food-market in Spain, where the best "chefs" buy for their Michelin Restaurants and where you will enjoy one of the popular fresh fruit juices (included in the tour).

Approximate value: 32 EUR per person

Excursion to Montserrat
Drive through picturesque villages to 4,320-foot Montserrat with its impressive Benedictine monastery perched halfway up the mountain. Visit the Royal Basilica, one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years due to its famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Virgin Morenita (Black Virgin).

Approximate value: 44 EUR per person

Glimpses of Granada
With your Local Guide, discover the cathedral of Granada, considered to be one of Spain's most important renaissance buildings. Visit the richly decorated Royal Chapel, built between 1505 and 1521 and which houses the mortal remains of the couple who unified Spain under one monarchy-Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon. Then, visit the Carthusian Monastery, an outstanding example of baroque architecture with its intricate white stucco works. Construction began in 1516 and continued for the next 300 years, but the project was never completed. The monastery was home to a community of monks and laymen who lived under a vow of silence. Finally, enjoy a beautiful view over the Alhambra and the city from the famous El Albaicin old Moorish quarter.

Approximate value: 39 EUR per person

Mijas & Dinner on the Carihuela
Drive to the enchanting village of Mijas, nestled in the mountainside at 1,404 feet (428 meters) above sea level. Enjoy a walking tour, then free time for shopping or admiring its cobblestoned, narrow winding streets, dazzling whitewashed walls, and breathtaking views. Later, enjoy a 4-course dinner, with drinks, at one of the celebrated restaurants in La Carihuela, the original fisherman's district in Torremolinos, famous for the best seafood in the region.

Approximate value: 59 EUR per person

Andalusian Dinner & Flamenco
While savoring a 3-course Andalusian dinner with drinks, enjoy an exciting flamenco show. The flamenco dance, with its roots in Indian, Arabic, and Spanish cultures, is a highly-expressive, passionate dance form that no visitor to Spain should miss.

Approximate value: 64 EUR per person

Cathedral and Columbus Tomb
Standing on the site of a grand mosque, Seville's 15th-century gothic cathedral was built to demonstrate the city's power and wealth after the Reconquista, when the city was captured from the Moors. It is the third-largest church in Europe and boasts 80 chapels, the largest altarpiece in the world, and the breathtaking La Giralda, one of the three remaining Almohad minarets in the world (the others are in Marrakesh and Rabat, Morocco). This beautiful structure became the bell tower of the cathedral, and dominates the city's skyline. The cathedral also houses the remains of explorer Christopher Columbus. Although originally buried in Havana's cathedral in Cuba, his first discovery in 1492, his remains were moved to Seville during the upheavals surrounding the Cuban Revolution in 1902.

Tour Italy, England, South America, or the world on an escorted vacation. Globus, part of the Globus family of brands, has been the leader in escorted tours, travel packages, and river cruises for more than 85 years. More About the Globus family of brands